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(No ModeL') BOAT.

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VILLIAM H. MULLINS, OF SALEM, OIIIO.

BOAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 563,674, dated July '7, 1896. Application tiled November 12, 1895. Serial No. 568,715L (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. MULLiNs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salern, in the county of Columbiana and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boats; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the saine.

My 'invention relates to boats, and has for its object the production of a light portable craft on the canoe order, having certain characteristic features of construction which will later appear.

The boat is by preference stamped in sections from sheet metal, which sections are secured together by rivets and solder, manganese-bronze, aluminium ,copper,or galvanized iron being employed as a material, though obviously wood or other boatbnilding material may be used Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

When constructed of metal upon the lines indicated, the result is alight, durable, and steadycraft especially adapted for a gunningskiif or for canoeing purposes, Whether propelled by paddle, oars, or sail; the first quality, lightness, being insured by thinness of the metal itself; the second, durability, by stiffness of the structure, freedom from corrosion or action of the elements; and the third, steadiness in smooth or rough Water, lby the outlines of the boat and its breadth of beam. Special and important features of construetion are further to be found in air-tight conipartinents, fore and aft, insuring suiiicient buoyancy in the event of sWarnping; hawseholes or mast-holes penetrating said air-tight compartments; strengthening-ribs, lap-joints and seams for reinforcing the structure; and double corrugated decks upon the bow and stern, all as Will later appear, and be more fully pointed out in the claims following.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of iny invention; Fig. 2, a longitudinal central section thereof; Fig. 3, a transverse central section; and Figs. e and 5, detail fragmentary views illustrating, respectively, a plan view of one corrugated deck and a perspective view of the double eorru gated plates from which it is formed.

Reference being had to the drawings and letters thereon, A indicates the hull or body of the boat, which, in the present instance, is `stamped from sheet metal in corresponding' halves, each having a series of longitudinal offsets a, affording rigidity to the metal and producing the appearance of alap-streak boat built from individual timbers. These halves are jointed, to produce the hull A, by a lapjoint ZJ, extending from stein to stern at the longitudinal center or keel of the boat, and are spoolrshaped upon their extremities, thus imparting to the structure a double-ended eynibiform appearance. At the bow and stern the hull A thus formed is decked, as at B, said decks overlapping` and housing` the gun- Wales to which they are secured in a permanent and watertight manner, being corrugated transversely, as shown, for the double purpose of stiffness and drainage. By Wayof further bracing and stiffening, the main decks B are each reinforced by a second or false deck O of substantially the same size and of corresponding` configuration, the latter being riveted beneath the fermer with their corrugations arranged at right angles, as illustrated by Fig. 5.

The decks B B, extending fore and aft, merge into side decks D, which are secured to the gunwales of hull A in like ina-nner as the decks before mention ed, thus forming acockpit E within the contines of said decks B D, bordered by a vertical combing F, formed by the upturned edges thereof. At the intersection of said combing F and the decks, from which it is formed, is located a rope-like enibossment e, serving as an ornamentation and in addition the more important function of strengthening the structure at this point, while the upper edge of combing F is rolled upon itself, as at d, for the purpose of giving to it a body.

At either end of cockpit E beneath the decks B are located vertical bulkheads G, fitting closely the contour of said decks and hull at these points, and there closely secured as by solder forming air-tight compartments II in the bow and stern for the purpose oi' iioating theinetallic boat in the event of swampin 0.

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In the longitudinal center of the decks B adwith corresponding openings in the decks B made fast.

and hull A, respectively, which openings, however, as Will be observed by inspection of Fig. 2, are preferably not in verticalalinement, thus imparting to the tubes I a desirable rake.

lVithin the cockpit E are located ribs J, crossing the hull A transversely from gunwale to gunwale,being riveted in position ,as shown by Fig. 2, and provided each with a central raised or semitubular portion c, serving materially to strengthen the rib J and through it the hullA, while upon the decks D outside of the combing F are bracket oar-locks f for the reception of oars when desired. This being substantially the construction of my invention its use and operation areas follows:

l/Vhen the boat is employed as a gunning skiff, the tubes I, one or both, are used as hawse-holes, having passed therethrough an anchor-line g, bearing at its extremity a suitable anchor h, as, for instance, a window-sash weight, adapted to be hoisted or lowered from` within the boat, where the end of said line is Likewise ka double line may be used, or a single line liavinganchor-weights at both ends, operating through Vboth hawse holes ,or tubes I. Under the latter rig Vit is obvious that a sportsman having both an-k chors under control, while waitin g in ambush or decoying for game, may moor the craft by one or the other, according to direction of the tide or current in which he may be stationed, and 'may quietly and readily manipulate either or both anchors for the purpose of drifting onto game or changing location of the boat as circumstances may require.

Then the boat is employed for canoeing purposes, it is equally as well adapted to be propelled by oars from the oar-locks j' or by a paddle in the usual manner, and owing to its peculiar lines of construction, its systemv ofY decking, combing, and aiiutight compartments is especiallyarranged and adapted for sailing in rough or smooth Waters. latter connection tubes I serve in the capacity of mast-holesfor the reception of a mast or masts, upon which suitable sails may be bent. such masts being socketed inV the tubes throughout the entire length of thelatter, receiving' a superior stepping at 'their lower eX- tremity and an adequate brace at the decks without in the least interfering with orjeopardizing the air-tight compartments through which they pass. As thus equipped the boat constitutes a satisfactory sailing-craft, but obviously a centerboard and rudder add materially to its sailing and working qualities. These, however, not being embraced inthe Vpresent application, need not be herein further referred to.

In the I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Iatent, is-

l. A boat or skiff provided with air-tight `compartments respectivelyY at the Vbow and stern thereof, the decks of said compartments stays or braces and also Vto receive anchor chains Vor ropes, substantially as described.

Y 2. A boat or skifl' provided with air-tight compartments located respectively at the bow and stern thereof, said compartments having metallic tubes passing substantially vertically therethrough, and a continuousV line passing through said tubes the outboard or lower ends thereof bearing anchor-weights. as and for the purppse specified.

In testimony `whereof I subscribe my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. MULLINS. lVitnesses:

F. J. MULLINs, LAURA ELLYsoN. 

